NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans will resume a
Crescent City men's basketball rivalry with Xavier (La.) on Wednesday night at
7 p.m. at Lakefront Arena.

The two in-city schools will contest a home-and-home series
this year, restoring at least temporarily a rivalry that packed gymnasiums
across the city in the 1970s as part of the 'City Series'.

UNO (9-7) defeated XULA (8-4) 75-69 at the Superdome on Feb.
11, 1976 in the programs' last encounter and have claimed 3 of 4 meetings
against the Gold Rush. The first meeting
in the all-time series between the schools took place in front of 4,127 fans at
the Human Performance Center in 1973 with UNO taking a 61-60 victory.

Wednesday's home contest is the second in a stretch of four
straight at Lakefront Arena for the Privateers, who saw their 14-game home win
streak come to an end against Christian Brothers on Dec. 31.

Needing to produce significant contributions in light of
recent UNO injuries, the reserves answered the call last time out. Each member
of the Privateer bench scored no less than four points in the contest,
combining to score 32 points and shooting 48 percent from the field.

Rarlensee Nelson scored a career-high 10 points while
dishing out five assists to lead the effort. Fellow reserve Colby Barnes also
notched a career-best effort with six points.

While the bench was doing its part, the team as a whole lit
up the scoreboard from beyond the arc, draining a season-high nine
three-pointers. Darrell Williams and Max Banchy accounted for three apiece as
UNO shot 9 of 18 from long-range.

Lovell Cook was the top scorer in the contest against CBU
with 13 points while also adding nine rebounds. Cook's performance allowed the
former Warren Easton standout to remain at his team-leading season average of 13
points per contest.

XULA takes to the floor on Wednesday as the No. 21 ranked
team in NAIA.

Cordnell Hadnot leads the Gold Rush with 10.3 points per
game, despite starting seven of the team's contests. A balanced scoring team, five other scorers
join Hadnot in averaging at least eight points per game for a XULA team that
scores 70.5 points an outing.

The Gold Rush has lost 2 of 3 including a triple-overtime
setback at Loyola on Dec. 17. XULA is 2-3 away from The Barn, where they will
host UNO on Feb. 1.

Following Wednesday's contest, the Privateer men's
basketball team will face Concordia-Selma at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday in the
second half of a doubleheader with the UNO women's team that begins at 12 p.m.
Both times for Saturday reflect changes announced in consideration of the New
Orleans Saints' playoff appearance.